Game system and information management apparatus

ABSTRACT

To evoke the desire to play in a new player and also to increase the interest of a current player in a game. A game system includes a plurality of gaming machines and an information management apparatus connected thereto, the information management apparatus including: a selection execution module which carries out a selection relating to a payout of a cumulative playing value obtained by adding a prescribed proportion of playing values which correspond to playing operations on the gaming machines; a selection probability table storage module which stores a plurality of selection probabilities relating to the payout of the cumulative playing value; a central controller which designates a selection probability stored in the selection probability table storage module; and a notifying section which carries out a notification corresponding to the selection probability designated by the central controller, wherein the central controller, when prescribed conditions have been fulfilled, designates a selection probability having a higher win probability of the cumulative playing value than a current win probability.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application No.2005-145111 filed on May 18, 2005, which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a game system and informationmanagement apparatus, and more particularly to a game system andinformation management apparatus which actualizes a so-called jackpotfunction.

2. Related Art

Presently, among the gaming machines installed in a so-called gamecenter, casino and the like, there are some which adopt a system whichis called a jackpot system. The jackpot system is a system wherebyvalues such as medals or coins (hereafter referred to as “playingvalues”) used in the gaming machines are accumulated in a fixedproportion and, when prescribed conditions such as the occurrence of awin by selection have been established, some of the playing valuesaccumulated are paid to any one of the gaming machines or a playerplaying on the gaming machine. As the player can obtain not only aplaying value which can be obtained in a game on the gaming machine butalso a playing value which can be obtained on the jackpot system, thejackpot system has the feature of further increasing player'swillingness to play.

In such a jackpot system, the system has been proposed whereby, when theamount of playing values accumulated reaches a predetermined amount, bygranting some kind of privilege to a player lastly involved in thusreaching the predetermined amount, a new playability is provided andplayer's expectations are increased (for example, refer to JapaneseUnexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-267428). In such a system, thepredetermined amount is predicted by the player, whereby it is expectedto attract the interest of a player other than a player actually playingand evoke the desire to play.

However, in the aforementioned existing game system, the predeterminedamount cannot be known unless the player actually plays, and even in thecase of being finally involved in reaching the predetermined amount, theplayer cannot always obtain the playing values accumulated. Therefore,there is the problem that the existing game has not necessarily led toevoking the desire to play in a player other than a player actuallyplaying.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object ofthe invention is to provide a game system and information managementapparatus which can, as well as evoking the desire to play in a newplayer, increase the interest of a current player in a game.

The invention is a game system comprising a plurality of gaming machinesand an information management apparatus which collects and managesinformation concerning the plurality of gaming machines, the informationmanagement apparatus including: a selection section which carries out aselection relating to a payout of a cumulative playing value obtained byadding a prescribed proportion of playing values which correspond toplaying operations on the gaming machines; a storage module which storesa plurality of selection probabilities relating to the payout of thecumulative playing value; a control section which designates a selectionprobability stored in the storage module; and a notifying section whichcarries out a notification corresponding to the selection probabilitydesignated by the control section, wherein the control section, whenprescribed conditions have been fulfilled, designates a selectionprobability having a higher win probability of the cumulative playingvalue than a current win probability.

According to this configuration, when the prescribed conditions, such asthe condition that the value of the cumulative playing value exceeds afixed value, have been fulfilled, the control section designates aselection probability having a higher win probability of the cumulativeplaying value than a current win probability. In response thereto, thenotifying section carries out the notification corresponding to theselection probability designated. By this means, as the notification,which corresponds to the selection probability having a highercumulative playing value win probability than the current one, iscarried out, it is possible, through attracting the interest of a newplayer, to evoke the desire to play in the new player. Also, byincreasing the probability of being able to obtain the cumulativeplaying value, it is possible to attract even the interest of a currentplayer and also to arouse his or her gambling spirit, thus making itpossible to increase the interest of the current player in a game.

In the game system, the configuration may be such that the storagemodule stores a selection probability used at a normal time to pay outthe cumulative playing value, a selection probability having a higherwin probability of the cumulative playing value than the selectionprobability used at the normal time, and contents for which anotification is raised by the notifying section in accordance with eachof the selection probabilities. In this case, as the storage modulestores a selection probability used at the normal time and a selectionprobability having a higher cumulative playing value win probabilitythan the selection probability used at the normal time, it is possiblefor the control section to easily designate a selection probability usedby the selection section. Also, as the control section can easilyspecify the notification contents corresponding to the selectionprobability designated by the control section, the notificationcorresponding to the selection probability designated by the controlsection can be carried out by simple control.

Also, in the game system, it is preferable that the storage modulestores a plurality of selection probabilities having a higher winprobability of the cumulative playing value than the selectionprobability used at the normal time. In this case, by designatingselection probabilities having a higher cumulative playing value winprobability in a gradated manner, it is possible to increase thecumulative playing value win probability in a gradated manner. By thismeans, a new player, whose interest has not been attracted by onlyincreasing the cumulative playing value win probability one step, can beprompted to play.

Furthermore, in the game system, it can be considered that the controlsection, when the value of the cumulative playing value has exceeded apredetermined fixed value, designates a selection probability having ahigher win probability of the cumulative playing value than the currentwin probability, or that the control section, when a number of playerson the plurality of gaming machine falls below a predetermined fixednumber, designates a selection probability having a higher winprobability of the cumulative playing value than the current winprobability. By changing the selection probability in accordance withsuch an occasion, it is possible to simplify the control involved in thechange of the selection probability. Also, in the former case, as thecumulative playing value win probability is increased when the value ofthe cumulative playing value has exceeded the fixed value, by settingthe fixed value to be somewhat high, the gambling spirit of a new playercan be aroused, and the effect of evoking the desire to play in the newplayer can be further hoped for. In the latter case, as the cumulativeplaying value win probability is increased when the number of playershas fallen below the fixed number, the operating rate of the game systemby the players who have been prompted to play by the increase of the winprobability can be increased.

Also, the invention is an information management apparatus whichcollects and manages information concerning a plurality of gamingmachines connected together via a communication network, comprising: aselection section which carries out a selection relating to a payout ofa cumulative playing value obtained by adding a prescribed proportion ofplaying values which correspond to playing operations on the gamingmachines; a storage module which stores a plurality of selectionprobabilities relating to the payout of the cumulative playing value; acontrol section which designates a selection probability stored in thestorage module; and a notifying section which carries out a notificationcorresponding to the selection probability designated by the controlsection, wherein the control section, when prescribed conditions havebeen fulfilled, designates a selection probability having a higher winprobability of the cumulative playing value than a current winprobability.

According to this configuration, when the prescribed conditions, such asthe condition that the value of the cumulative playing value exceeds thefixed value, have been fulfilled, the control section designates aselection probability having a higher win probability of the cumulativeplaying value than a current win probability. In response thereto, thenotifying section carries out the notification corresponding to theselection probability designated. By this means, as the notification,which corresponds to the selection probability having a highercumulative playing value win probability than the current one, iscarried out, it is possible, through attracting the interest of a newplayer, to evoke the desire to play in the new player. Also, byincreasing the probability of being able to obtain the cumulativeplaying value, it is possible to attract even the interest of a currentplayer and also to arouse his or her gambling spirit, thus making itpossible to increase the interest of the current player in a game.

According to the invention, it is possible to evoke the desire to playin a new player and also to increase the interest of a current player ina game.

Additional objects and advantage of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectsand advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means ofthe instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed outhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE INVENTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, andtogether with the general description given above and the detaileddescription of the embodiments given below, serve to explain theprincipals of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a game system accordingto an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration example ofa management section in a management apparatus of the game system;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing one example of contents registered in aselection probability table in a selection probability table storagemodule in the management section;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a slotmachine in the game system;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing a control system of theslot machine; and

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing an operational example of the gamesystem.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

An embodiment of the invention will hereafter be described in detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

A game system according to this embodiment is one to which a progressivesystem is applied. The progressive system is a system which includes atleast one gaming machine, wherein at least part of a playing value(hereafter referred to as a “cumulative playing value”), which can beobtained by cumulatively adding a prescribed proportion of playingvalues based on players' playing operations on the gaming machines, isallotted to any one of the gaming machines in accordance with prescribedconditions (for example, a payout condition, a win by selection and thelike).

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the game system accordingto the embodiment of the invention. In a game system 100 according tothis embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, slot machines 1 a to 1 d, which actas a plurality of (in FIG. 1, four) gaming machines, and an informationmanagement apparatus (hereafter referred to simply as a “managementapparatus”) 200, which collects and manages various information of eachof the slot machines la to id, are connected via a communication network300.

The management apparatus 200 comprises a management section 201 and anotifying section 202 connected thereto. The management section 201 isconnected to each of the slot machines la to id via the communicationnetwork 300, enabling two-way communication with respect to each of theslot machines 1 a to 1 d. Either a wired or wireless connection can beprovided between the management section 201 and each of the slotmachines 1 a to 1 d.

The management section 201 manages the game system 100 in such a way asto actualize the progressive system. That is, the management section201, as well as carrying out the addition, subtraction and the like ofthe cumulative playing value, carries out a selection relating to thepayout of the cumulative playing value. Also, the management section201, as well as causing the notifying section 202 to carry out aprescribed effect in accordance with a result of the selection, carriesout the payout of the cumulative playing value to a slot machine 1 whichhas won. In addition thereto, the management section 201, as well ascausing the notifying section 202 to notify regarding a probability ofpaying out the cumulative playing value (hereafter referred to as a“cumulative playing value win probability”), increases the cumulativeplaying value win probability in the event that the prescribedconditions have been fulfilled.

The notifying section 202 includes a display device 203 and a speaker204. The display device 203, along with displaying the value of thecumulative playing value, displays image data (including character data)for carrying out the prescribed effect which includes the notificationof the cumulative playing value win probability. For example, thedisplay device 203 displays a message (for example, a message “chance”,“big chance” or the like) which notifies the player that the cumulativeplaying value is currently set to be higher than at a normal time. Thespeaker 204, along with outputting background music for a game, outputsa sound effect for carrying out the prescribed effect which includes thecumulative playing value win probability. For example, the speaker 204,in the event that the cumulative playing value win probability is set tobe higher than at the normal time, outputs a sound effect, which isdifferent from a normal one, for attracting the player's interest.

FIG. 2 shows a functional block diagram showing a configuration exampleof the management section 201. As shown in FIG. 2, the managementsection 201 includes a communication controller 301, a centralcontroller 302, which is connected to the communication controller 301,a cumulative playing value storage module 303, which is connected to thecentral controller 302, a selection execution module 304, a selectionprobability table storage module 305, and a notifying instruction module306.

The communication controller 301 executes a communication protocol forcarrying out communication with each slot machine 1. The centralcontroller 302 carries out the determination, control and adjustment ofoperation of each part of the management section 201, as well as theaddition, subtraction and the like of the cumulative playing value.Particularly, the central controller 302, in a prescribed case, updatesthe cumulative playing value selection probability registered in aselection probability table to be described hereafter. To be specific,in the event that the prescribed conditions, such as the condition thatthe cumulative playing value exceeds a fixed value, have been fulfilled,the central controller 302, by designating a selection probabilityhaving a higher cumulative playing value win probability than a currentwin probability, updates the cumulative playing value selectionprobability.

The cumulative playing value storage module 303 stores the value of thecumulative playing value. The selection execution module 304 executes aselection relating to the payout of the cumulative playing value inaccordance with a selection request from a slot machine 1. At this time,the selection execution module 304 executes a selection of thecumulative playing value using the selection probability designated bythe central controller 302. The selection probability table storagemodule 305 stores a table (hereafter referred to as a “selectionprobability table”) in which a plurality of the cumulative playing valueselection probabilities is registered.

The notifying instruction module 306, as well as causing the notifyingsection 202 to execute the prescribed effect in a case in which thenotifying instruction module 306 has been notified of the occurrence ofa win of the cumulative playing value, causes the notifying section 202to execute the prescribed effect in a case in which the cumulativeplaying value win probability has been increased. In response to such aninstruction from the notifying instruction module 306, the notifyingsection 202 carries out the notification, which corresponds to theselection probability designated by the central controller 302, to theplayer. The configuration may be such that the notifying instructionmodule 306 only instructs each slot machine 1 to execute an effectinvolved in the occurrence of the win of the cumulative playing value oran effect involved in the increase of the cumulative playing value winprobability, and such that a notifying module included in each slotmachine 1 executes such effect processes.

At this point, a description will be given of the contents which areregistered in the selection probability table. FIG. 3 shows one exampleof the contents which are registered in the selection probability table.In FIG. 3, the case is shown in which three cumulative playing valueswhich the player can obtain exist, wherein they are displayed as Jackpot1 (hereafter referred to as “JP1”), Jackpot 2 (hereafter referred to as“JP2”) and Jackpot 3 (hereafter referred to as “JP3”). The quantity ofplaying values which can be obtained with each of JP1, JP2 and JP3 ismanaged in such a way as to decrease in the order of JP1, JP2 and JP3.

A selection probability and a notification content to correspond withthree stages, a “normal mode”, a “first special playing mode” and a“second special playing mode”, are registered in the selectionprobability table. A cumulative playing value selection probability usedat the normal time is registered in the “normal mode”, a cumulativeplaying value selection probability, having the cumulative playing valuewin probability greatly increased in comparison with that in the “normalmode”, is registered in the “second special playing mode”, and acumulative playing value selection probability, having the cumulativeplaying value win probability set between that in the “normal mode” andthat in the “second special playing mode”, is registered in the “firstspecial playing mode”. The selection probability values corresponding toJP1, JP2, JP3 and MISS are registered in the selection probability, anddisplay data displayed by the display device 203 and sound data outputby the speaker 204 are registered in the notification content.

As shown in FIG. 3, the selection probability (win probability) of eachof JP1, JP2 and JP3 is higher in the “first special playing mode” thanin the “normal mode” and higher in the “second special playing mode”than in the “first special playing mode”. However, the selectionprobability of MISS is lower in the “first special playing mode” than inthe “normal mode” and lower in the “second special playing mode” than inthe “first special playing mode”. That is, the probability of the playerbeing able to obtain the cumulative playing value is set to be higher inthe “first special playing mode” than in the “normal mode” and higher inthe “second special playing mode” than in the “first special playingmode”.

In the “normal mode”, the display data displayed by the display device203 is not particularly designated, in which case the value of thecumulative playing value is displayed on the display device 203. Thebackground music played at the time of a base game is designated as thesound data output by the speaker 204. In the “first special playingmode”, the message “chance” is designated as the image data (characterdata) displayed by the display device 203, and “sound effect 1” isdesignated as the sound data output by the speaker 204. In the “secondspecial playing mode”, the message “big chance” is designated as theimage data (character data) displayed by the display device 203, and“sound effect 2” is designated as the sound data output by the speaker204. In “sound effect 2”, preferably, the content which raises player'sexpectations in comparison with that of “sound effect 1” is designated.It can be considered that the contents of “sound effect 1” and “soundeffect 2” are distinguished by, for example, the characteristics ofmelody and the volume of sound output.

At this point, a description will be given of a configuration of theslot machine 1 in the game system 100 according to this embodiment. FIG.4 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of the slotmachine 1 in the game system 100 according to the embodiment of theinvention.

In FIG. 4, the slot machine 1 includes a cabinet 2 which forms the wholeof the slot machine 1, wherein a lamp 20 is disposed on the top surfaceof the cabinet 2. An upper liquid crystal display 3 is disposed in theupper portion of the front of the cabinet 2, and a lower liquid crystaldisplay 4 is disposed in the central portion of the front of the cabinet2. The upper liquid crystal display 3 is configured from a generallyused liquid crystal display, and the lower liquid crystal display 4 isconfigured from a so-called transparent liquid crystal display. Fourvariable display windows 22, 23, 24 and 25 are displayed on the lowerliquid crystal display 4, wherein one activated pay line is provided inthe four variable display windows 22 to 25.

An operating table 5 is provided, projecting forwards, below the lowerliquid crystal display 4. A CHANGE button 6, a CHASHOUT button 7 and aHELP button 8 are disposed, in order from the far left, on such anoperating table 5, and a coin insertion slot 9 and a bill insertion slot10 are provided on the right of the HELP button 8. Also, a 1-BET button11, a SPIN/REPEAT BET button 12, a 3-BET button 13 and a 5-BET button 14are disposed, in order from the left, at the front of the operatingtable 5.

The CHANGE button 6 is a button for illuminating the lamp 20. TheCASHOUT button 7 is a button which is depressed at the end of the basegame whereby, in response to a depression thereof, coins equivalent tothe playing values obtained in the game are repaid from a coin payoutopening 15 into a coin receiving tray 16. The HELP button 8 is a buttonwhich is depressed in the event that a game operation method etc. isunclear whereby, in response to a depression thereof, various helpinformation is displayed on the upper liquid crystal display 3 and thelower liquid crystal display 4.

A coin sensor 65 is disposed in the coin insertion slot 9 and detects acoin inserted. A bill sensor 66 is disposed in the bill insertion slot10 and detects a bill inserted. The 1-BET button 11 is a button whereby,each time it is depressed, one bet is placed. The SPIN/REPEAT BET button12 is a button whereby, in response to a depression thereof, the varyingdisplay of symbols is started in each of the variable display windows 22to 25 in the lower liquid crystal display 4 so as to start the game withthe current number of bets or the previous number of bets.

The 3-BET button 13 is a button whereby, in response to a depressionthereof, the game is started with three bets. The 5-BET button 14 is abutton whereby, in response to a depression thereof, the game is startedwith five bets. As well as the coin payout opening 15 being formed, thecoin receiving tray 16, which receives the coins paid out from the coinpayout opening 15, is provided at the bottom of the cabinet 2.

Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 5, of aconfiguration relating to a control system of the slot machine 1. FIG. 5is a block diagram schematically showing the control system of the slotmachine.

In FIG. 5, the control system of the slot machine 1 is basicallyconfigured around a CPU 50 acting as a control section, wherein an ROM51 and an RAM 52 are connected to the CPU 50. The ROM 51 stores a gamecontrol program, to be described hereafter, various effect programs forcarrying out various effects on the upper liquid crystal display 3 andthe lower liquid crystal display 4 as the game progresses, a selectiontable for selecting each kind of winning combination, and other variouskinds of program, data table and the like which are necessary for thecontrol of the slot machine 1. Also, the RAM 52 is a memory fortemporarily storing the various kinds of data calculated by the CPU 50.

In this embodiment, the programs, data and the like used in controllingthe slot machine 1 are not limited to being previously stored in the ROM51 and the RAM 52, but changes can be made as appropriate. For example,the configuration may be such that the same programs, data and the likeare previously stored in a storage medium, such as a Compact Flash(registered trademark), and are downloaded into the ROM 51 and the likefrom such a storage medium.

A clock pulse generator 53, which generates a reference clock pulse, anda frequency divider 54 are connected to the CPU 50, as are a randomnumber generator 55, which generates a random number, and a randomnumber sampling circuit 56. The random number sampled via the randomnumber sampling circuit 56 is used for the various kinds of selection ofthe winning combinations etc.

A SPIN/REPEAT BET switch 58 appended to the SPIN/REPEAT BET button 12, a1-BET switch 59 appended to the 1-BET button 11, a 3-BET switch 60appended to the 3-BET button 13, a 5-BET switch 61 appended to the 5-BETbutton 14, a CHANGE switch 62 appended to the CHANGE button 6, a CASHOUTswitch 63 appended to the CASHOUT button 7, and a HELP switch 64appended to the HELP button 8, are each connected to the CPU 50. Basedon the switch signal output by each switch according to the depressionof each button, the CPU 50 carries out control so as to execute thevarious kinds of operation corresponding to each button.

The coin sensor 65 disposed in the coin insertion slot 9 and the billsensor 66 disposed in the bill insertion slot 10 are each connected tothe CPU 50. The coin sensor 65 detects the coins inserted through thecoin insertion slot 9, whereby the CPU 50 calculates the number of coinsinserted based on the coin detection signal transmitted from the coinsensor 65. The bill sensor 66 detects the kind and value of the billsinserted through the bill insertion slot 10, whereby the CPU 50calculates the number of coins equivalent to the value of the bills,based on the bill detection signal transmitted from the bill sensor 66.

Four stepping motors 68, which rotate respective reels 220 via a motordrive circuit 167, are connected to the CPU 50. When a motor drivesignal is transmitted to the motor drive circuit 167 from the CPU 50,each stepping motor 68 is rotary driven by the motor drive circuit 167,thereby rotating each reel 220.

At this time, after the rotation of each reel 220 is started, the numberof drive pulses, which is supplied to each of the stepping motors 68, iscalculated, and the calculated value is written in a prescribed area ofthe RAM 52. Also, a reset pulse is transmitted from each reel 220 foreach revolution and is received by the CPU 50. When the reset pulse isthus received by the CPU 50, the calculated value written in the RAM 52is cleared to 0 whereby, based on the calculated value corresponding toa rotational position of each reel 220 within one revolution and asymbol table in which the rotational position of each reel 220 stored inthe ROM 51 is related to the symbols formed on the surface of each reel220, the CPU 50 recognizes the rotational position of the symbols oneach reel 220.

A position change detection circuit 69 is connected to the CPU 50. Theposition change detection circuit 69 detects a change in the stationaryposition of the reels 220 after they are stop-controlled by the motordrive circuit 167. For example, in a case in which, although acombination of stationary symbols does not actually fall into a winpattern, the stationary position has compulsorily been changed by theplayer in such a way that the combination of stationary symbols fallsinto a win pattern, or in a like case, the position change detectioncircuit 69 detects such a change in the stationary position of the reels220. The position change detection circuit 69 is configured in such away that, for example, by detecting fins attached at prescribedintervals to the inner portion of each of the reels 220, it can detect achange in the stationary position of the reels 220.

A hopper 71 is connected to the CPU 50 via a hopper drive circuit 70.When a drive signal is transmitted to the hopper drive circuit 70 fromthe CPU 50, the hopper 71 pays out a prescribed number of coins from thecoin payout opening 15. Also, a coin detector 73 is connected to the CPU50 via a payout completion signal circuit 72. The coin detector 73 isdisposed inside the coin payout opening 15. In a case in which theprescribed number of coins is detected to have been paid out from thecoin payout opening 15, a coin payout detection signal is transmittedfrom the coin detector 73 to the payout completion signal circuit 72,based on which the payout completion signal circuit 72 transmits apayout completion signal to the CPU 50.

The upper liquid crystal display 3 and the lower liquid crystal display4 are connected to the CPU 50 via a liquid crystal drive circuit 74. Agraphic board or the like can be used as the liquid crystal circuit 74.The upper liquid crystal display 3 and the lower liquid crystal display4 may be configured in such a way as to be controlled by separate liquidcrystal circuits.

LED's 78 are connected to the CPU 50 via an LED drive circuit 77. Alarge number of the LED's 78 are distributed on the front of the slotmachine 1 wherein, when various kinds of effect are carried out,illumination control is carried out by the LED drive circuit 77 based ona drive signal from the CPU 50. Also, a sound output circuit 79 and aspeaker 80 are connected to the CPU 50, wherein the speaker 80, based onan output signal from the sound output circuit 79, emits various kindsof sound effect when the various effects are carried out.

The lamp 20 is connected to the CPU 50 via a lamp drive circuit 75. Thelamp 20 is disposed on the top surface of the slot machine 1 (refer toFIG. 4) wherein, when the CHANGE button 6 is depressed, illuminationcontrol is carried out by the lamp drive circuit 75 based on a drivesignal from the CPU 50.

The transparent touch panel 30 is connected to the CPU 50 via a touchpanel drive circuit 67. The transparent touch panel 30, which isequipped on the screen of the lower liquid crystal display 4, isconfigured in such a way that it transmits the coordinate positioninformation of a portion touched by the player via the touch panel drivecircuit 67, and that the CPU 50 can thereby determine the portiontouched.

A progressive interface (I/F) 81, which is a communication port forcarrying out communication with respect to the management apparatus 200,is appended to the CPU 50. The CPU 50 is configured in such a way as tobe capable of sending a selection request to the communicationcontroller 301 (refer to FIG. 2) of the management apparatus 200, whilereceiving the notification of the cumulative playing value, selectionresult and the like from the communication controller 301 of themanagement apparatus 200.

Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 6, of anoperational example of the game system 100 according to this embodiment.FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram showing an operational example of the gamesystem 100 according to this embodiment. FIG. 6 shows only one slotmachine 1 which carries out communication with the management apparatus200. Also, in FIG. 6, the management apparatus 200 carries out controlin accordance with the selection probability table shown in FIG. 3, andthe cumulative playing value selection probability is set to the “normalmode” before the sequence shown in FIG. 6 is started.

FIG. 6 shows the sequence related to the case of updating the cumulativeplaying value selection probability in the management apparatus 200 andcarrying out a selection relating to cumulative playing value payout.The management apparatus 200 carries out a cumulative playing valueaddition process in response to an addition request from the slotmachine 1, updates the cumulative playing value selection probabilitywhen the prescribed conditions have been fulfilled, and notifies theplayer to the updated content. Also, the management apparatus 200carries out the selection relating to cumulative playing value payout inresponse to the selection request from the slot machine 1, and thus paysout the cumulative playing value.

First, it is supposed that a game is started on the slot machine 1 and acredit accumulation condition has occurred during the game (ST601). Inthe game system 100, each time the credit accumulation condition occursfrom each slot machine 1, the management apparatus 200 collects andcumulatively adds a fixed proportion of playing values and, on conditionthat a win has occurred, pays out the cumulative playing value obtainedas a result to a specified player. The credit accumulation condition canbe variously selected. For example, the insertion of a coin acting asthe playing value, the operation of a BET button such as the 1-BETbutton 11 and the like can be considered to be the credit accumulationcondition.

When the credit accumulation condition has occurred, the slot machine 1notifies the management apparatus 200 of a playing value to be newlyadded to the current cumulative playing value, and thereby transmits tothe management apparatus 200 the addition request which requests thatthe playing value be added to the cumulative playing value (ST602). Uponreception of this addition request, the management apparatus 200 carriesout the addition process in which the playing value of which it has beennotified by the slot machine 1 is added to the cumulative playing valuealready stored at this point (ST603). At this time, the managementapparatus 200 causes the display device 203 to display the cumulativeplaying value obtained by carrying out this addition process.

After the addition process has been carried out, it is supposed that thecondition to update the cumulative playing value selection probability(hereafter referred to as the “selection probability update condition”)has occurred in the management apparatus 200 (ST604). The selectionprobability update condition can be variously selected. For example, thecase in which the value of the cumulative playing value has reached apredetermined fixed value, the case in which the total number of gamesperformed on the slot machine 1 connected has reached a predeterminedfixed number, the case in which a selection process has been carried outregardless of the value of the cumulative playing value and the totalnumber of games, and in which the update of the cumulative playing valueselection probability has been selected according to the selectionresult, or a like case, can be considered to be the selectionprobability update condition. Herein, it is supposed that the selectionprobability update condition has occurred with the result that the valueof the cumulative playing value has reached the predetermined fixedvalue.

When the selection probability update condition has occurred, themanagement apparatus 200 carries out the process of updating thecumulative playing value selection probability (hereafter referred to asthe “selection probability update process”) (ST605). The selectionprobability update process is carried out in accordance with thecontents registered in the selection probability table. That is, in theselection probability update process, as shown in FIG. 3, the managementapparatus 200 switches the mode in use from the “normal mode” to the“first special playing mode” or the “second special playing mode”, andthereby updates the cumulative playing value selection probability, thusincreasing the cumulative playing value win probability.

In the selection probability update process, it can be arbitrarily setwhether the mode is to be updated from the “normal mode” to the “firstspecial playing mode” or to the “second special playing mode”. Forexample, the mode to be updated from the “normal mode” may be switchedin order between the “first special playing mode” and the “secondspecial playing mode”, or may be switched in such a way as to be updatedto the “second special playing mode” on condition that it has beenupdated a fixed number of times from the “normal mode” to the “firstspecial playing mode”.

After having carried out the selection probability update process, themanagement apparatus 200 carries out a process (hereafter referred to asan “updated information notifying process”) which notifies the player,who plays on the slot machine 1, to the updated information (ST606). Theupdated information notifying process is carried out in accordance withthe contents registered in the selection probability table. That is, themanagement apparatus 200 causes the notifying section 202 to notify theplayer to the notification contents corresponding to the mode determinedin the selection probability update process. For example, when the modehas been updated from the “normal mode” to the “first special playingmode”, the display device 203 displays the message “chance”, and thespeaker 204 outputs “sound effect 1”. Meanwhile, when the mode isupdated from the “normal mode” to the “second special playing mode”, thedisplay device 203 displays the message “big chance”, and the speaker204 outputs “sound effect 2”.

In this way, when the update condition has occurred (ST604), after thecumulative playing value win probability has been increased by theselection probability update process (ST605), the notifying section 202notifies the player to the message and sound effect indicating that thecumulative playing value win probability has been increased by theupdated information notifying process (ST606). By this means, it ispossible to attract the interest of a player who is not currentlyplaying on the slot machine 1 (for example, a player or the like who isobserving the playing status from the periphery of the game system 100),and also to attract the interest of a player who is currently playing onthe game system 100.

After the updated information notifying process has been carried out, itis supposed that a selection condition has occurred while the game isbeing performed on the slot machine 1 (ST607). The selection conditioncan be variously selected. For example, an appearance of the win patternin which specified symbols such as ALL SEVENS are arranged, anappearance of the win pattern including a symbol which permits theselection for obtaining the cumulative playing value, and the like, canbe considered to be the selection condition. The ALL SEVENS refers to acase in which all the symbols stopped on the activated pay line L areSEVEN symbols.

When the selection condition has occurred, the slot machine 1 transmitsto the management apparatus 200 a selection request which requests aselection relating to cumulative playing value payout (ST608). Uponreception of the selection request, the management apparatus 200executes the selection (ST609). As such a selection, for example, themethod can be considered by which, in the event that a random numbervalue generated in response to the selection request matches apredetermined value, it is determined as a win, and in the event thatthe random number value does not match the predetermined value, it istreated as a miss. However, another selection method is also acceptable.

In the event that a win has been determined as a result of the selectionprocess (ST610), in order to notify the player on the slot machine 1that the win has occurred, the management apparatus 200 carries out awin occurrence notifying process which causes the notifying section 202to execute a prescribed operation (ST611). As the win occurrencenotifying process, it can be considered to display the value of thepaid-out cumulative playing value in a flashing form on the displaydevice 203 of the notifying section 202, and also to output sound datasuch as a fanfare from the speaker 204 of the notifying section 202.

Following the win occurrence notifying process, the management apparatus200 executes an allotment of the cumulative playing value. Specifically,the management apparatus 200 notifies the slot machine 1, which is to beallotted with the cumulative playing value, that a win has been obtainedas the selection result and of the value of the cumulative playing valueto be allotted (ST612).

Upon reception of the notification to the effect that the win has beenobtained and of the value of the cumulative playing value, the slotmachine 1 carries out a credit addition process (ST613). That is, theslot machine 1 adds the value of the cumulative playing value, of whichit has been notified by the management apparatus 200, to the creditvalue being stored at the point when the notification has been received,and stores the resulting value as a new credit value. That is, theplayer on the slot machine 1 receives a payment such as a credit for aso-called Jackpot win.

Meanwhile, after having carried out the notification to the effect thatthe win has been obtained and of the value of the cumulative playingvalue to be allotted, the management apparatus 200, in order to respondto the payout of the cumulative playing value (ST612 and ST613), carriesout a subtraction process which returns the value of the cumulativeplaying value to an initial value (for example, 0, 100 or the like)(ST614).

After having carried out the subtraction process, the managementapparatus 200 carries out the selection probability update process again(ST615). In the selection probability update process in this case, thecumulative playing value selection probability updated in the selectionprobability update process of ST605 is returned from the “first specialplaying mode” or the “second special playing mode” to the “normal mode”.

After having carried out the selection probability update process, themanagement apparatus 200 carries out the updated information notifyingprocess again (ST616). In the updated information notifying process inthis case, the updated information notifying process carried out inST606 is stopped. By this means, the cumulative playing value selectionprobability in the game system 100 is returned to the initial “normalmode”. In this way, a series of operations in the game system 100 isfinished, and the same processes will be repeated again.

As described heretofore, according to the game system 100 of thisembodiment, when the prescribed conditions, such as the condition thatthe value of the cumulative playing value exceeds the fixed value, havebeen fulfilled, the management apparatus 200, as well as increasing thecumulative playing value win probability, notifies the player with themessage and sound effect indicating that the cumulative playing valuewin probability has increased. By this means, it is possible to attractthe interest of a player who is not currently playing on the slotmachine 1, thus making it possible to evoke the desire to play in a newplayer. Also, as the probability of being able to obtain the cumulativeplaying value increases, it is possible to attract even the interest ofa current player and also to arouse his or her gambling spirit, thusmaking it possible to increase the interest of the current player in thegame.

Also, in the game system 100 of this embodiment, the managementapparatus 200 maintains a selection probability used at the normal timeto pay out the cumulative playing value, a selection probability havinga higher cumulative playing value win probability than the selectionprobability used at the normal time, and the contents for which anotification is raised by the notifying section 202 in response to eachof the selection probabilities. Specifically, the management apparatus200 maintains a selection probability table having registered therein aselection probability used at the normal time and a selectionprobability having a higher cumulative playing value win probabilitythan the selection probability used at the normal time, and designatesthe notification contents corresponding to a cumulative playing valueregistration probability in the selection probability table. By usingthis selection probability table, it is possible for the managementapparatus 200 to easily designate a selection probability to be used ata selection time to pay out the cumulative playing value. Also, as thenotification contents corresponding to the designated selectionprobability can easily be specified, it is possible to carry out thenotification corresponding to the specified selection probability bysimple control.

Particularly, a plurality of (in this embodiment, two) selectionprobabilities having a higher cumulative playing value win probabilitythan the selection probability used at the normal time are registered inthe selection probability table. By this means, it is possible toincrease the cumulative playing value win probability in a gradatedmanner and also to carry out the notification corresponding to theselection probability changed. By thus increasing the cumulative playingvalue win probability in a gradated manner, a new player, whose interesthas not been attracted by only increasing the win probability one step,can be prompted to play. Also, as the gambling spirit of a currentplayer can be further aroused, it is possible to increase the interestof the current player in the game.

In the aforementioned embodiment, a description has been given of thecase in which the management apparatus 200 manages various selectionprobabilities and the notification contents corresponding to theselection probabilities using the selection probability table. However,as for the configuration of managing such selection probabilities andthe notification contents corresponding to the selection probabilities,the invention is not limited to the above configuration, butmodifications can be made as appropriate. For example, it is acceptableto use any technique which can specify the notification contentscorresponding to various modes, such as the normal mode, the firstspecial playing mode which is more beneficial to the player than thenormal mode in obtaining the cumulative playing value, and the secondspecial playing mode which is still more beneficial than the firstspecial playing mode, as designated in the selection probability table.

Furthermore, in the game system 100 of this embodiment, by the value ofthe cumulative playing value reaching the predetermined fixed value, theselection probability update condition occurs, thus increasing thecumulative playing value win probability. By setting the predeterminedfixed value to be somewhat high, it is possible to arouse the gamblingspirit of a new player, so that the effect of evoking the desire to playin the new player can be further hoped for.

The aforementioned selection probability update condition is shown asone example, and modifications can be made as appropriate in accordancewith contents such as the operational status, current time, installationlocation or the like of the game system 100. For example, theconfiguration may be such that, in the event that the number of playerson a plurality of slot machines 1 falls below a predetermined fixednumber, the selection probability update condition is caused to occur,thus increasing the cumulative playing value win probability. In thecase of such a modification, the operating rate of the game system 100can be increased by a player who has been prompted to play by theincrease of the cumulative playing value win probability.

Also, the invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiment, butvarious modifications can be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. As for the size, the shape and the like shown inthe accompanying drawings in the aforementioned embodiment, theinvention is not limited thereto, but modifications can be made withinthe range in which the beneficial effects of the invention are achieved.Any other modifications can be made and practiced without departing fromthe scope of the object of the invention. Modified examples of theinvention will be illustrated hereafter.

In the aforementioned embodiment, in the selection probability updateprocess, the setting when the mode is switched from the “normal mode” tothe “first special playing mode” or the “second special playing mode” isone example. For example, in consideration of player's interest and thelike, modifications can be made as appropriate. For example, it isacceptable to set in such a way that the mode is switched not only fromthe “normal mode” to either the “first special playing mode” or the“second special playing mode”, but from the “first special playing mode”to the “second special playing mode”.

Also, it is acceptable to determine by selection which mode a transitionis to be made to in the selection probability update process. In such aselection, it can be considered to determine which mode a transition isto be made to in accordance with a correlation between a random numberand a predetermined value. However, it is acceptable to determine whichmode a transition is to be made to using another method. In that case,the correlation between the random number and the predetermined valuemay be set to be one to one or a plurality to one. Also, instead ofusing a random number used in the selection as it is, it is acceptableto determine the mode which a transition is to be made to in accordancewith the calculated result obtained by subjecting the random number to aprescribed calculation process.

Furthermore, it is acceptable to change a mode to which the mode isswitched in accordance with the number of players who are playing on thegame system 100. For example, in a case in which the occupancy by theplayers on the slot machines 1 connected is 40% to 60%, the mode isswitched to the “first special playing mode”, while in a case in whichthe occupancy falls below 40%, the mode is switched to the “secondspecial playing mode”. In this way, by changing a mode to which the modeis switched in accordance with the number of players, it can also beexpected to control the operating rate of the game system 100.

Further still, in the aforementioned embodiment, in the updatedinformation notifying process, the case is shown in which the notifyingsection 202 carries out the notification corresponding to the selectionprobability updated in the selection probability update process.However, in consideration of prompting of a new player to play and thelike, the contents of the notification by the notifying section 202 canbe changed as appropriate. For example, it is acceptable to carry outthe notification corresponding to a cumulative playing value which canbe updated in the next selection probability update process. Also, it isacceptable, along with this notification, to notify the player to thecondition maintained until the selection probability is updated (forexample, the value of the cumulative playing value which is maintaineduntil it reaches the fixed value). In a case in which such anotification is carried out, it is possible to attract the interest of anew player before the cumulative playing value win probability isactually increased, thus making it possible to evoking the desire toplay in the new player. In the case of carrying out such a notification,it is preferable that the notifying section 202 carries it out at alltimes.

The invention is applied to the game system and information managementapparatus which actualizes a so-called jackpot function whereby, as wellas evoking the desire to play in a new player, it increases the interestof a current player in the game, thus having industrial applicability.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects isnot limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shownand described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventiveconcept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

1. A game system comprising a plurality of gaming machines and aninformation management apparatus which collects and manages informationconcerning the plurality of gaming machines, the information managementapparatus including: a selection section which carries out a selectionrelating to a payout of a cumulative playing value obtained by adding aprescribed proportion of playing values which correspond to playingoperations on the gaming machines; a storage module which stores aplurality of selection probabilities relating to the payout of thecumulative playing value; a control section which designates a selectionprobability stored in the storage module; and a notifying section whichcarries out a notification corresponding to the selection probabilitydesignated by the control section, wherein the control section, whenprescribed conditions have been fulfilled, designates a selectionprobability having a higher win probability of the cumulative playingvalue than a current win probability.
 2. A game system according toclaim 1, wherein the storage module stores a selection probability usedat a normal time to pay out the cumulative playing value, a selectionprobability having a higher win probability of the cumulative playingvalue than the selection probability used at the normal time, andcontents for which a notification is raised by the notifying section inaccordance with each of the selection probabilities.
 3. A game systemaccording to claim 2, wherein the storage module stores a plurality ofselection probabilities having a higher win probability of thecumulative playing value than the selection probability used at thenormal time.
 4. A game system according to claim 1, wherein the controlsection, when the value of the cumulative playing value has exceeded apredetermined fixed value, designates a selection probability having ahigher win probability of the cumulative playing value than the currentwin probability.
 5. A game system according to claim 1, wherein thecontrol section, when a number of players on the plurality of gamingmachine falls below a predetermined fixed number, designates a selectionprobability having a higher win probability of the cumulative playingvalue than the current win probability.
 6. An information managementapparatus which collects and manages information concerning a pluralityof gaming machines connected together via a communication network,comprising: a selection section which carries out a selection relatingto a payout of a cumulative playing value obtained by adding aprescribed proportion of playing values which correspond to playingoperations on the gaming machines; a storage module which stores aplurality of selection probabilities relating to the payout of thecumulative playing value; a control section which designates a selectionprobability stored in the storage module; and a notifying section whichcarries out a notification corresponding to the selection probabilitydesignated by the control section, wherein the control section, whenprescribed conditions have been fulfilled, designates a selectionprobability having a higher win probability of the cumulative playingvalue than a current win probability.